Poison Dragon Mire. The moonlight draped like light gauze, softly obscuring the ancient trees, lending a faint, hazy warmth to the Great Marsh of Yunmeng, yet the thin, black miasma lingering above the Mire added a layer of eerie mystery.

The fierce beasts of Poison Dragon Mire—Green-Eyed Poison Scorpions, Flying Blood Vipers, Three-Eyed Dragon Pythons, and others—crawled out from their hiding spots, congregating at the mire's edge. The Heavenly Turtle Pterodactyl, its massive eyes blazing with hostility, watched the two battling sides, half its colossal body submerged in the pool, the other half floating above.

By the mire’s edge.

Ji Changkong, bare-chested, darted and weaved under the relentless pursuit of the Nine-Headed Bird's twin heads, skillfully evading their strikes, which were as thick and crushing as giant serpents.

Whoosh!

With a mighty spring, Ji Changkong shot up an ancient tree, scrambling ten feet up to dodge an attack from one head. In a flash like lightning, he seized a thick, hanging vine, swinging like a monkey towards the Nine-Headed Bird’s other head as it circled around, delivering a crushing punch.

Thump!

One of the heads, unable to retreat in time, took the full force of the blow. It shrieked in pain, violently whipping its large head away and flinging Ji Changkong aside. He flipped and twisted in mid-air several times before planting both feet on a nearby branch, using the rebound force to descend smoothly onto the ground.

The Nine-Headed Bird grew annoyed. Besides the two heads actively attacking, a third head lunged out, attempting to entangle Ji Changkong the moment his feet touched down.

Roar!

From the depths of Poison Dragon Mire, the Heavenly Turtle Pterodactyl let out a roar of medium volume.

The third head of the Nine-Headed Bird, which had just extended, instantly retracted. All twelve of its eyes simultaneously flashed with colors of apprehension and reluctant resignation. It froze motionlessly, daring not violate the unspoken rules by employing the third head.

The Nine-Headed Bird retreated slightly, and the Flying Blood Viper took its place, coiling and grappling with Ji Changkong.

The Flying Blood Viper refrained from using its razor-sharp, venomous fangs, instead weaving and twisting nimbly through the air, making it impossible for Ji Changkong to land a solid grip. Nevertheless, it periodically shot out from the undergrowth to strike, wrapping its body around Ji Changkong and squeezing tightly, only releasing its hold when compelled by the low growl of the Heavenly Turtle Pterodactyl.

After the Flying Blood Viper withdrew, the Green-Eyed Poison Scorpion, the Three-Eyed Dragon Python, and the Eight-Horned Giant Spider stepped up one after another, engaging Ji Changkong in turn. None of them exerted their full strength, their most lethal attacks restricted by the presence of the Heavenly Turtle Pterodactyl, as they sparred with Ji Changkong by the mire’s edge.

In these skirmishes, either Ji Changkong suffered minor setbacks, or when he managed to strike them hard, they sustained no significant damage.

Yet, these battles were incredibly beneficial to Ji Changkong. Though he hadn't formally studied any Heavenly Master secret techniques, his body possessed extraordinary agility, his movements astonishingly fast. He seemed to have become just another fierce beast near the Poison Dragon Mire, demonstrating a budding mastery over his physical form as a weapon.

When the sparring session concluded, the beasts of the Poison Dragon Mire either gazed at him smugly or glared with resentment and unwillingness, seemingly hoping to gain the upper hand in the next round of assaults.

Unconsciously, the attitudes of these savage, alien beasts living by the Poison Dragon Mire toward Ji Changkong had noticeably softened. Now, even without the Heavenly Turtle Pterodactyl guarding the mire, they no longer fixed him with venomous stares upon his approach, no longer viewing him as mere prey.

He built a bonfire and hoisted a bamboo pole laden with the tantalizingly cooked flesh of the Blood-Patterned Giant Crocodiles that the Nine-Headed Bird had hunted.

Tossing a large chunk aside, the Green-Eyed Poison Scorpion, the Nine-Headed Bird, and the Three-Eyed Dragon Python suddenly leaped out to snatch the cooked meat.

“What’s the hurry! There’s more!” Ji Changkong scolded, flicking his hands lightly. Piece by piece, cooked meat sailed out. The Flying Blood Viper and the Eight-Horned Giant Spider also darted out with a whoosh, tearing into the deliciously fragrant meat with gusto.

With a mouthful of Fire Dragon Brew warming his belly, Ji Changkong felt a profound sense of ease, even developing a flicker of affection for these temperamentally brutal beasts.

These creatures had always guarded the Poison Dragon Mire; any stranger who approached would immediately be swarmed and devoured.

Towards strangers, they were indeed savage, never showing mercy!

However, once they accepted you, they became remarkably docile. Even if Ji Changkong struck them hard during the fights, they instantly forgot it once the engagement ended, eagerly anticipating another match next time.

—They didn't seem to view their sparring with Ji Changkong as true combat, as if... it were simply their playtime.

Unbeknownst to him, Ji Changkong had forged a strange friendship with every beast around the Poison Dragon Mire.

Sometimes, when Ji Changkong went to gather herbs elsewhere and encountered Blood-Patterned Giant Crocodiles or swarms of Gold-Backed Centipedes he couldn't handle alone, he wouldn't need to lift a finger. He would find the Nine-Headed Bird, the Flying Blood Viper, and other beasts from the mire suddenly appearing to help him wipe out those invaders that did not belong to the Poison Dragon Mire territory.

Rustle... rustle... A faint sound of footsteps drifted from afar.

Ji Changkong’s heart twitched. Who is showing up now? First, he shot a stern glance at the beasts feasting beside him, silently warning them not to harm any innocents, before standing up to see who was approaching.

Cough...

A familiar, soft cough echoed from the distant dense woods.

Suddenly, the beasts of the Poison Dragon Mire—the Nine-Headed Bird, the Green-Eyed Poison Scorpion, the Flying Blood Viper, and the Three-Eyed Dragon Python—scattered like startled birds. The Nine-Headed Bird abandoned the meat it was so enjoying, extending all three heads to forcefully wrap around Ji Changkong, seeming intent on dragging him away to hide.

The Flying Blood Viper and the Three-Eyed Dragon Python closely followed the Nine-Headed Bird, tightly encircling Ji Changkong in the center, apparently fearful that the approaching person might harm him.

Roar!

The Heavenly Turtle Pterodactyl, lazily submerged in the center of the mire, suddenly leaped out, positioning itself directly in front of the approaching figure like an opponent facing a great threat. Its huge eyes were filled with menace, yet it did not immediately charge.

Rustle... rustle... rustle...

The faint footsteps grew closer. The peculiar man, Luo Tian, with a large woven basket slung on his back, emerged from the depths of the forest at an unhurried pace.

“Changkong, I knew you would be here.” Luo Tian glanced at Ji Changkong, who was firmly surrounded by the numerous fierce beasts of the Poison Dragon Mire, and couldn't help the slight twitch of his lips, seeming amused. He stopped without drawing any closer.

Roar!

The Heavenly Turtle Pterodactyl roared in anger, glaring fixedly at Luo Tian, as if questioning his purpose for returning.

“Bringing some things for Changkong. Why so tense?” Luo Tian frowned, unhooking the large basket from his shoulder. He pulled out jar after jar of Fire Dragon Brew and set them on the ground. Then he glanced at Ji Changkong and said, “I was gathering herbs in Yunmeng and brought this brew to sell, but no one dares buy it, so I’ll leave it all for you.”

Luo Tian hesitated for a moment. “Changkong, these five jars of Fire Dragon Brew are a bit different from the previous batch. Drink them all yourself; don’t share them with anyone else!”

With that, Luo Tian turned his back without another word and walked away.

“Old Luo, just who are you?” Ji Changkong, still held fast by the Nine-Headed Bird’s coils, shouted aloud. After drinking the brew for so long, he naturally knew this wine was vastly different from ordinary liquor, and suspicion regarding Luo Tian’s identity began to stir in his heart.

“Just a brewer,” Luo Tian replied without turning back, his figure gradually fading away.

...

Only after Luo Tian had completely left the vicinity of the Poison Dragon Mire did the previously panicked beasts return to normal.

Ji Changkong knew Luo Tian hadn't told the truth. If he had reached the Four Symbols Heaven realm, he could communicate directly with the minds of beasts like the Nine-Headed Bird, allowing him to ask why they feared Luo Tian so intensely.

In all his time at the Poison Dragon Mire, Ji Changkong had never seen these beasts afraid of anyone. Luo Tian’s arrival caused them all to flee—clearly indicating Luo Tian was someone to be dreaded.

Even the usually arrogant overlord of Yunmeng, the Heavenly Turtle Pterodactyl, although showing no outward signs of fear, had regarded Luo Tian with extreme caution, holding back from immediate attack. This alone proved Luo Tian was certainly no ordinary person!

After Luo Tian left, Ji Changkong didn't dwell on it too long. He only knew Luo Tian would never harm him. Shaking free from the tangle of the Nine-Headed Bird’s three heads, Ji Changkong walked over to where Luo Tian had placed the jars and twisted the lid off one, downing several large gulps.

A fiery potency, more than ten times stronger than the previous Fire Dragon Brew, instantly flooded his body!

In that instant, Ji Changkong felt as if he were momentarily trapped in a hellish sea of fire. Sweat poured from him in torrents, and the perspiration trickling from his body actually carried a foul odor. He couldn't stop letting out loud, rumbling flatulence, and soon, his entire being reeked.

It was as if these foul substances had been lodged deep within his body, forcefully expelled by just a few gulps of the Fire Dragon Brew!

Furthermore, the bones inside his body cracked audibly, and he felt utterly dazed. At a glance, his flesh was crimson red, like dripping blood, giving a frightful impression.

What terrifying liquor potency!

Ji Changkong roared inwardly, feeling as if all the Yuan Power within him had been instantly galvanized, surging through his body like a stampede of ten thousand horses, causing excruciating discomfort.

He had no choice but to immediately sit cross-legged, striving to quiet his mind and compel the Yuan Power to settle.